British Baby Names

UK Birth Announcements 25/12/17 - 31/12/17

A round-up of names from birth announcements announced in British newspapers in the last week.

Sources include a national paper (The Telegraph) and a broad range of local newspapers from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sibling names are in brackets. 

 

Boys:

Cory Gavin 

Henry Caspar

Jack Maxwell (William Massey)

Luka Cooper (Oscar Jack & Sebastian Jacob)

William Stephen

 

Girls: 

Aria Grace (Ava Jane)

Athena Madeleine Alexandra (George Anthony Caesar)

Esme (Matilda)

Molly Elizabeth (Chloe Delia)

Ooryala-Rose Ida Mary Edgcumbe -- named after great great grandmother.

Sadie Elsie

Sofia Ann (Leo)

Thea Grace (Emma Catherine)

 

 

Name Musings: December 2017

As it's the end of the year and I'm in a reflective mood, I've been looking back through all the Birth Announcement posts from 2017. So, for this month's Name Musings, I thought I'd share with you the ones which tickled my fancy most. 

 

Names worth watching out for:

Alva Rose -- With Ava in the top 5 and Alba on the rise, Alva makes for a great alternative. 

Deacon Dalziel -- This has all the potential to be the next Dexter.

Edison John -- The fashionable -son surname style with easy nickname of Eddie. 

Letty Rae -- Lottie is now in the top 100 so Letty feels like a perfectly on-trend choice.

Novella Rae -- With Nova on the rise, I wonder how long it'll be before Novella gets more attention. 

Nylah Faith -- Isla, Mya and Lyla... Nyla(h) is one to watch out for.

Raven Rey -- Rey (in any spelling) is the hot new middle name in Britain, and Raven is a great addition to the new wave of nature names. 

 

Names which most peaked my interest:

Amelia Dauphine Naomi

Arrowen Juliette (sibs: Braiden Ross & Preston Hugo) 

Atalanta Philippa Annabel (sib: Sibyl Nancy)

Aubrey Alexander 

Bijoux Bebek --- bebek is Turkish for "baby"

Clunie Angela

Constantine Peter

Elwood Jack

Frida Blossom

Gramercy

Honeysuckle Heather Bell (sibs: Humphrey John Sidney & Herbert Lister Hamilton "Herbie")

Ionie Cecelia Mary

Izora Eveline Tamara (sib: Ottilie Honor Florence)

Liusaidh Hannah Lesley (sibs: Ruairidh Joseph Henry & Eilidh Margaret Catriona)

[twins] Lockie James Ian Hope & Star Victoria Flora Hope (sibs: Farleigh Elizabeth Winefride & Phoenix Vivyan Peter Hope)

Magi Grug -- Grug (GREEG) is the Welsh for "heather"

Meriwether Longyear

Olympia Susan Tulloch (sib: Rufus Penrose)

Orabel Henrietta (sibs: Wilbur George)

Otis Perceval Peter

Penorah Snow "Penny" (sib: Miller Jack)

Penrose Elizabeth (sib: Ephra Alice)

Sixtus Dominic Boniface Christopher (sibs: Peter Theodore Alphege, Mary Anne Charlotte Emma, Thomas Wentworth Somerset Dunstan, Anselm Charles Fitzwilliam & Alfred Wulfric Leyson Pius)

Suki Skye Cresta (sib: Stella Ivy Juno)

Swyn Elenid Haf (sib: Elsi Nora Blodwen) - swyn means "spell, charm" in Welsh.

Temujin Charles

Thorfinn William 

Tudor Adrian David

Tydwen Mary Haf (sib: Eirys Winifred Nan)

Willa Storm

Zsa Zsa Hermione Christobel (sibs: Cressida Lucy Florence and twins Rocco & Aubrey)

 

My favourite sibling sets:

Acacia and new brother Leander John George 

Azalea Primrose and new sister Zinnia Indigo

Dexter Fox and new brother Aldous Jake

Edward Blaise "Ned", Beatrice Mary "Bea", Christopher Ambrose Richard "Kit", Josephine Alice "Posy",  Mary Assumpta and new sister Clemency Jane Frances "Clemmie"

Electra Amalia Bartholomea and new sister Cleopatra Frederica Madeline

Elsa Mai and new sister Alys Fflur 

Felix Hugo Godfrey, Montague Francis "Monty" and new sister Araminta Daisy

Finn Patrick and new brother Oran Thomas 

Hera Ivy and new sister Valentina Elise

Hugo Robert, Theodore Xavier and new sister Venetia Araminta

Isla Polly Appleby, Rose Irene Hilleary,  Benedict Felix Macdonald and new sister Euphemia Mary Wren

Ludo Charles Spixworth and new sister Willa Primrose Victoria 

Octavia Lily, Arlo James, August Albert  and new sister Sylvia Eden 

Olivia Catherine,  Imogen Cecily and new sister Ottilie Beatrice 

Ophelia Grace Scott and new sister Leonora Olympia Rose 

Otis Damian and new sister Cassia Mary

Penelope Georgia April and new sister Theodore Cooper Cash 

Phoebe Mathilda, Beatrice Grace and new sister Thea Iris

Theodora Verity, Harriet Cecily and new brother Rufus Benedict 

Wilbur George McKenzie and new brother Rufus James Laidlay 

Xanthippe Phyllis Elizabeth and new sister Henrietta Zillah Iris

 

Names I'd be most tempted to steal:

Beatrice Kitty Aurelia -- Beatrice and Aurelia are favourites and I love the whimsical use of Kitty here.

Flora Verena Jane -- I find Flora delightful, and I love the pairing with stately Verena and classic Jane. 

Griffin James Sirius -- I'm a sucker for a medieval heritage choice like Griffin

Morwenna Joy -- I'm a sucker for Morwenna but I especially like it with perky Joy to lighten its drama. 

Orla Venetia -- I love the paired-down style of Irish beauty Orla with the grand elegance of Venetia. 

Primrose Ophelia "Posy" -- I love all three names. Together, for me, this is perfection. 

Rafferty Heath -- Love this combination of jaunty surname and rugged nature name. 

Ralph Atticus -- A handsome cuddly old-timer combined with a stately Roman antique. 

 

UK Birth Announcements 18/12/17 - 24/12/17

A round-up of names from birth announcements announced in British newspapers in the last week.

Sources include a national paper (The Telegraph) and a broad range of local newspapers from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sibling names are in brackets. 

 

Boys:

Alexander William Louis (Eliza Anastasia)

Benjamin John Edward

Cai Rhys

Campbell Ivan (Lorraine & Rebecca Olive)

Christopher Clarke (Luke & Stephen)

Henley Austin

Jack Leonard (Rosa)

Lenny Arthur

Matthew Walter

Montgomery Frederick Alexander (Hugo William Edward)

Oscar Henry (Alfred George "Alfie")

Rory Andrew

Rory Andrew (Mairi-Claire, Emily & Conor Joseph)

Theodore Calcutta (Oliver Humphrey "Humphrey", Lily Beatrice & Giles Ronald)

Vinny Alan David (Jack, Frankie & Georgia)

 

Girls: 

April Mia

Arrowen Juliette (Braiden Ross & Preston Hugo) 

Astrid Catherine

Beatrice Diana Mary (Charles Siegfried Smyth "Sigi")

Cara Catriona (Caoimhe Maria & Colette)

Daisy Marie (Aimee & Lily)

Grace Alice (Henry John)

Iris Harper

Iris Violet (Zackary & Austin John)

Isabelle Ann

Jessica Grace 

Lilianna Lucy

Martha Lily (Oscar Adam & Tabitha Lucy)

Ottilie Rose Victoria (Freddie George Henry)

Paige Freya Susan (Carter William John)

Polly Catherine (Annabel Margaret)

Ruby Mary

Sara Grace (Emily Anne)

Willow Faith (Summer & Amelia Hope)

 

Twins:

Maxim & Oscar

Jemima Isabel & Sofia Beatrix (Emilia Rose)

 

Name of the Week: Dashiell

 

Origin:

Dashiell is an adoption of the surname Dashiell which itself is an anglicised form of the French family name de Chiel. The de Chiels were a wealthy family who held land near Lyon from the Middle Ages.**  At least one branch of the family moved to Scotland in the 16th century and then on to Maryland by the 17th century.*  The meaning of the name Chiel is unknown. Some have suggested that it is derived from the Old French ciel "heaven, sky," though this is an unusual source for a surname. I'm purely hypothesising here, but I wonder if there is a connection to the word chely in English (which according to this source could be chel in Old French) which, in modern terms is a scientific word, and derives from the Greek khele (χηλή) "hoof, claw, something hooked or forked." As surnames often derived from nicknames denoting notable physical features (like the surnames Moreau "the Moor", Moreau, Charbonneau "charcoal (skinned/haired)", Roux "red haired") I can see a nickname deriving from a physical feature which was hooked, such as a prominent nose etc.  Coincidentally, chiel is an archaic Scottish word meaning "a child, young person."* Though many Scots words derive from French thanks to the Auld Alliance, it is highly unlikely that this Scottish chiel has any roots in French at all, and is instead a corruption of the Middle English word child.

Usage:

Dashiell has always been an incredibly rare surname in Britain, and examples are very hard to come by. In America, however, especially in Maryland where some of the French da Chiel family emigrated from Scotland, there are plenty families bearing the surname. As a first name, however, on both sides of the Pond, Dashiell was almost unheard of. There are a few American examples of Dashiell in use as a middle name — such as American general, George Dashiell Bayard (1835–1862) and American politician Isaac Dashiell Jones (1806–1893) — but there were due conferred use of family surnames.  One of the most notable and primary namesakes for Dashiell as given name is Dashiell Hammett (1894-1961), American author, screenwriter and political activitist, most famous for pioneering hardboiled detective novels (creating characters such as Sam Spade and Nick and Nora Charles). Hammett was born Samuel Dashiell Hammett in Maryland (the American heartland of the Dashiells) to Richard Hammett and Anne Dashiell. As an adult he dropped his given name Samuel professionally in favour of his middle name.  Despite the popularity of his novels in the 1920 and 30s, the name Dashiell made little impact. Abby Sandel points out that "fewer than five boys received the name most years during the twentieth century" in the U.S. up until 1979 when the name made a modest rise into the 1990s.  Interestingly, the first birth record for Dashiell as a first name in England and Wales (from 1838-2005) was in 1979 in York, and from 1980 to 1989, there were 20 registrations for Dashiell as either a first or second name (including Benedict Dashiell Thomas Paget, Earl of Uxbridge whose father is the current Marquess of Anglesey). So what was it about 1979 that sparked this use? Abby points out that the 1977 film Julia featured actor Jason Robards playing the role of Dashiell Hammett and a biography of Hammett was released in 1979.  By the 1990s, Dashiell was used consistantly each year as a first name, usually registered once or twice a year. Click to enlarge 1991: 2 births 1992: 2 births 1993: 2 births 1994: 2 births 1995: 1 birth 1996: 1 birth 1997: 2 births 1998: 2 births 1999: 0 births 2000: 1 birth As only names with three births or more are recorded in the official statistics, this usage for Dashiell does not show in the rankings until it began to rise after 2001. Several references to Dashiell appeared in popular culture over the following years. In 2001, Cate Blanchett named her eldest son Dashiell John which brought more attention to the name, and 2004 saw the Disney Pixar hit film The Incredibles use Dashiell "Dash" as the name of the eldest super-powered Parr son.  Dashiell peaked in 2010 at #1724 with 13 births. In 2016, the name ranked #2556 with 8 births.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Dashiell Hammett (1894–1961), American author. Contemporary: * Dashiell Eaves (born 1974), American actor. * Dashiell "Dash" Mihok (born 1974), American actor. * Dashiell "Dash" Furnier (b. 1985), son of singer Alice Cooper * Dashiell John Upton (b. 2002), son of actress Cate Blanchett. * Dashiell Gaston Hawkins (b. 2008), son of singer Sophie B. Hawkins Literature and Other Media: * Dashiell "Dash" Parr, character from The Incredibles. * Dashiell R. Faireborn "Flint", from G.I. Joe. * Dashiell "Dash" Gardiner, character from the Witches of East End TV series.

Variants:

Dashiel, Dashel

Pronunciation:

DASH-əl [key]

Possible diminutives:

Dash

Sibling Names:

Willa     Hermione     Bellamy     Wren     Briar     Everly       Arlo     Beckett     Finnegan     Stellan     Evander     Roscoe

Name Lists:

N/A

 

If you like Dashiell you may also like:   Cashel, Faolan, Asher, Cassian, Joven, Callen, Thackeray, Cosmo, Everett, Emmett

Thanks to Heather for requesting this name.  

 

Name Help: A Sister for Greta

Claire and Luke are expecting their second child -- a sister to join Greta.

Claire writes: "My husband and I have one 3 yr old daughter "Greta Claire" and despite knowing the sex early on and debating names for months, she was still nameless for nearly 5 wks after birth! The main reason being, we both loved Greta but foolishly told family that it was in the running and they all hated it and turned us off it so we tried to call her other names but none felt right. As it turns out it's the most perfect name for her, strong and feisty yet pretty and feminine. It also has a European vibe to it which I love because I work as a translator (French and Italian) and have spent quite a bit of time in France and Italy.

We like uncommon names but not too out there. Luke prefers short names (for example, I like Felicity but he can't stand it) [...and...] would prefer one or 2 syllables.

The girls names in the running are:

Cecily - my absolute favourite, can't express how much a love this name but sadly my husband isn't a fan.
Nora - my husband's favourite - I far prefer Annora (nn Anna/Nora) but that's a bit of a mouthful with our surname. I also like Leonora (nn Lea/Nora)
Lucy/Lucille - always liked it but wonder if it's a bit dull and popular in comparison to Greta
Emma - as above
Iris - love it but too tricky to say with surname [strong 'rid' sound]

I’m currently drawn to Nola and Lana.

We also considered Tess, Anna, Susanna when Greta was born." 

※    ※    ※    ※

You have a really solid list to go from, and I have to say, there are many names that I think work really well with Greta and your style.

Firstly, Lucy is such a sweet name, and far from being too common-place, its increasingly becoming sweetly unexpected. It is now #43 in England and Wales and on a downward curve, which means you won't meet too many little Lucys around. I also like that it is a nod to Luke's name. Greta has your name as a middle name, so perhaps Lucy could be used (even as a middle name) as a variant of dad. 

Nola and Lana are also jazzy vintage choices which hold their own next to feisty Greta and I don't think you can go wrong with either. 

 

Lucia – If Lucy is too common for you, how about the Latinate from Lucia which combines the drama and romance of  Cecily with the sleek style of Iris and Lana. 

Willa – A combination of the the jazzy vintage style of Lana and Nola and airy softness of Lucy and Cecily. Its roots are also regally ancient: Willa of Provence was an early medieval Frankish queen and Willa of Tuscany (d. 970), was queen consort of Berengar II of Italy. Willa is a rare name at #1241 but its profile is rising thanks to the likes of actress Willa Holland and, as a further bonus, serves as a perfect feminine form of family name William. 

Flora – The sassy sounds of Nora with the sweet softness of Lucy, Flora is the stately ancient goddess of flowers and a bonny Victorian gem.

Cora – Another ancient goddess name which has a lady-like vibe thanks to the heroine Cora Munro in The Last of the Mohicans and Lady Cora Crawley in Downton Abbey as well as a sassy retro style.

Orla –  A simple yet striking name, meaning "golden ruler," that was borne by several queens and princess in early medieval Ireland. 

Pippa – Bouncy and lively Pippa is a shortened form of regal Philippa which now stands proudly on its own. Ranking at #127, the name is uncommon but widely familiar. 

Esther – An amiable gem, borne by a Biblical queen and beloved by both the Georgians and the Victorians for its homely charm. 

Mathilde – A European twist on feisty, bold and queenly Matilda which strikes a familiar-yet-uncommon balance. 

Romy – A top 100 choice in France but much rarer here, Romy is a sassy vintage short form of Rosemary in Britain and Rosemarie in Germany and Austria (where it has several namesakes such as actress Romy Schneider). 

Olive – A vintage botanical gem in the same vein as Iris. It's more pared down than Olivia but still retaining a lively style. 

Leonor – A sleek Spanish variant of Eleanor (and the latinate Leonora) which was borne by several medieval princesses as well as the current heir to the Spanish throne as queen regnant. 

Nova – With Nora and Nola on your list, I can't pass the chance to mention Nova. This Latin word for "new" was first used as a given name in the 19th and peaked in Britain in the 1930s, most likely thanks to the fame of British actress Nova Pilbeam. It is currently in the top 30 in the Netherlands and Sweden which also gives it Continental flair. 

Lumi – Part Lucy, part Cecily, Lumi is a sweet Finnish name which means "snow." It is very rare, but totally accessible and wearable. 

Alba –  Alba is the Italian, Spanish, Romanian and Catalan word for "dawn, sunrise," but has even longer use as a Roman given name and place name. Today it is a fashionable European choice, ranking #246 in England and Wales and rising. 

Audra – A chic variant of Audrey, in use since the Late Middle Ages which makes the name feel fresh yet historic at the same time. Audra is also a Lithuanian girls' name meaning "storm."

Rhea – A Greek goddess of the earth and later borne by the mother of Romulus and Remus, Rhea is a a truly ancient name with a pleasingly modern sound.

Wren – A sweet nature name of a pretty bird which is still uncommon but gaining more attention and now ranks #334 and rising in England and Wales. The surname Wren derives from the name of the bird also, as it was once used as a nickname in the Middle Ages. 

 

 

I hope this has been helpful. Best of luck choosing the perfect name. 

 

UK Birth Announcements 11/12/17 - 17/12/17

A round-up of names from birth announcements announced in British newspapers in the last week.

Sources include a national paper (The Telegraph) and a broad range of local newspapers from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sibling names are in brackets. 

 

Boys:

Arthur Nicholas Bond (Wilfred Peter Bond)

Brody Peter

Charles Alfred Bear

Daniel Jake (Luisa Bella)

Fraser James

George Jon

Joshua Minh David

Lucas Andrew Jon 

Nathan John (Aiden Charlie)

Oliver Peter

Oliver William George

Rory Christopher

Samuel Christopher (Charlie Thomas & Benjamin Peter "Ben")

Toby Julian (Barnaby Laurence)

Wilbur George Arthur

Wilfred James (Edward Christopher)

 

Girls: 

Arabella Xue Hua

Autumn Rosabelle

Cassie Jessica 

Cecilia Lily Eva

Cora Ivy (Rory Albert & Arthur Peter)

Daisy Rose (Daniel & Oliver)

Eliza Rose Olive (Wilfred Harry Victor "Freddie")

Erin Anne

Ruby Elizabeth

 

Twins:

Alexander Munro & Frederick John

Faith Olivia & Laila Grace 

 

Name of the Week: Phoebe

 

 

Origin:

Phoebe is the transliterated English form of the Ancient Greek name Φοίβη (also "Phoibe") which derived from the Greek words phoibos (φοῖβος) "bright, radiant," but also (perhaps originally, or by extension) phoibazo (φοιβάζω) "prophesy, inspire" and phoibao (φοιβάω) "to cleanse, purify." In Greek Mythology, Phoebe was the name of a Titan goddess of bright intellect. She was the daughter of Ouranos (the Sky) and Gaia (the Earth), and wife of Koios (the Inquiring).* In some sources, Phoebe's domain was the moon. Indeed, from the meaning "bright, pure, shining," Phoebus was used as a both as an epithet and an alternate name of Apollo — in his capacity as god of the sun — and Phoebe was used for his twin sister Artemis in her capacity as the goddess of the moon. In his epic, the Aeneid, Virgil makes several references to "Phoebe's light": * Now was the world forsaken by the sun, And Phoebe half her nightly race had run. (Verg. A. 10.215) * Then, when they part, when Phoebe's paler light Withdraws, and falling stars to sleep invite, She last remains, when ev'ry guest is gone. (Verg. A. 4.54).  In other sources, Phoebe (via phoibazo) is more associated with prophesy. She was the third goddess to hold the title of prophet of Oracle of Delphi and later passed the title to her grandson, Apollo. According to Aeschylus, "Phoebe, took her seat here. She gave it as a birthday gift to Phoebus [Apollo], who has his name from Phoebe."(Aeschyl. Eum. 8)

Usage:

As a given name in its own right, Phoebe was certainly used as a proper name in Antiquity. The Lexicon of Greek Personal Names (LGPN) — which was "established to collect and publish all ancient Greek personal names, drawing on the full range of written sources from the 8th century B.C. down to the late Roman Empire" — has thirty-eight examples of the name Φοίβη (Phoibe) on record (most from Western Greece, Italy/Sicily and Asia Minor), which puts it in moderate usage.  Phoebe is also mentioned in the New Testament as a woman deacon at Cenchreae near Corinth commended by Paul when he writes: "I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the assembly that is at Cenchreae, that you receive her in the Lord, in a way worthy of the saints, and that you assist her in whatever matter she may need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, and of my own self." (Rom. 16). It is this Biblical reference which most likely accounts for Phoebe's usage in Britain from the 16th century, though its associations with Greek mythology likely helped its use further in the 18th century. Shakespeare used the name Phebe (Phoebe) for a character in As You Like It (1603) who was a country girl in the Forest of Arden with whom shepherd Silvius is madly in love with.  In terms of popularity, Phoebe became established regularly by the end 17th century. We can see this in Smith Bannister's rankings of top 50 names from 1538 to 1700 in England when the name first ranks at #46 in the tables for both 1680-9 and 1690-1700: Smith Bannister further points out that the name was more common in the South of England: "There was a clear difference of emphasis between the sources used for the names given to the female poor in the North and the South. In the more southerly areas poor women were more likely than others to have biblical names. This element of distinction principally arose from the greater proportion of women in Exeter, Surrey, and Oxfordshire who had biblical names which were not also traditional English names. Among these names we can include (from Exeter) Sarah, Susanna, Abigail, and Martha. There were also many female poor in Surrey named Hester, Hannah, Phoebe, Rebecca, Abigail, and Deborah."* According to Leslie Dunkling, Phoebe ranked #29 in 1700 and #38 in 1800 in England and Wales.  By the 19th century, Phoebe was a firmly established name with both the spelling Phoebe and Phebe in good use. By the end of the century, Phebe was fast becoming an obsolete spelling, with Phoebe dominating as the standard form.  Birth rankings in England and Wales:   Phoebe Phebe 1850:  1860:  1870:  1880:  1890: 1900:  #51 #58 #69 #74 #83 #99 #71 #96 #172 #173 #273 #303 Phoebe was out of top 100 from 1904 to 1994, but by 1996 had shot up to #65. It is temping to attribute this to the massive success of American TV sitcom Friends, starring Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay, which first aired in September 1994. While it is hard to argue that Friends didn't have any impact on the name (if only to normalise and widen its appeal), Dunkling's data for the number of girls registered with the names Phoebe in every 10,000 births in England and Wales, however, shows that it was already on the rise by that point: 1900 1925 1935 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985  1990   16   6   2    -    4    -    4    -    -    -    4    16 Another popular culture reference soon came in 1998 with the airing of the first season of popular supernatural TV series Charmed, starring Alyssa Milano as Phoebe Halliwell.  From 1998, Phoebe has been solidly in the top 50 in England and Wales, and in the top 30 from 2008. The highest rank was at #22 in 2014 (2099 births) and 2015 (2081 births), but the highest birth count was 2116 births (rank #26) in 2008.  In 2016, Phoebe ranked #24 (1975 births) in England and Wales, #73 (71 births) in Scotland and #49 (48 births) in Northern Ireland.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Phoebe Hessel (1713–1821), British soldier who disguised herself as a man to serve in army. * Phoebe Pember (1823–1913), nurse and medical administrator during the American Civil War. * Phoebe Judson (1831–1926), American pioneer and author. * Phoebe Knapp (1839–1908), American composer. * Phoebe Hearst (1842–1919), American philanthropist and feminist. * Phoebe Couzins (1848–1912), one of the first female lawyers in the U.S. and the first female marshal. * Phoebe Anna Traquair (1852–1936), Irish artist noted for her role in the Arts and Crafts Movement. * Phoebe Omlie (1902–1975), American aviation pioneer and one of the first female aviators. * Phoebe Hesketh (1909–2005), British poet. Contemporary: * Phoebe Nicholls (born 1957), British actress. * Phoebe Philo (born 1973), British fashion designer. * Phoebe Thomas (born 1983), British actress. * Phoebe Tonkin (born 1989), Australian actress and model. Literature and Other Media: * Phebe/Phoebe, a character in Shakespeare's As You Like It (1603).  * Phoebe Caulfield, the little sister of Holden Caulfield in Catcher in the Rye. * Phoebe Buffay, a main character in the sitcom Friends, portrayed by Lisa Kudrow. * Phoebe Halliwell, a main character on the television drama series Charmed. * Phoebe Sparrow, character in the television series Goodnight Sweetheart. * Phoebe O'Hara, a fictional FBI agent in Kindergarten Cop, portrayed by Pamela Reed.

Variants:

Phebe; Febe (Italian, Spanish, Dutch)

Pronunciation:

FEE-bee [key]

Possible  Diminutives:

Phee, Bee, Phebes

Sibling Names:

Freya     Sophia     Esme     Maya     Imogen     Thea  Matthew     Frederick     Louis      Edward     Harry     Felix

Name Lists:

Dulcet Dainties   Gorgeously Georgian   Victorian Darlings   Saintly and Stylish   Tennyson Names   Gilbert and Sullivan Names   Greek Nymphs   Names of Roses   Astronomical Names

 

If you like Phoebe you may also like:   Chloe, Willow, Hebe, Penelope, Luna, Lydia, Clara, Amelia, Eliza, Beatrice

Thanks to F for requesting this name.

 

UK Birth Announcements 4/12/17 - 10/12/17

A round-up of names from birth announcements announced in British newspapers in the last week.

Sources include a national paper (The Telegraph) and a broad range of local newspapers from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sibling names are in brackets. 

 

Boys:

Angus Michael (Robert Bergen)

Daniel Jake

Fionn Henry

George Goodrich (Claudia Florence)

Jakob James

Leopold Frederick (Wilfred Benedict Philip, Darcy Rose Patricia & Hubert William)

Loki

Ludo Maxim (Florence Arabella Rosalie)

Oliver Douglas James "Ollie"

Rafferty Stormonth (Hugo Stormonth)

Rufus Charles (Frederick "Freddie")

Rupert George (Annabel May)

Sebastian Marc

Teddy (Scarlett, Ruby, Evie, Daisy & Darcie)

Winston Victor Thomas (Parker)

 

Girls: 

Alice Freda (Edward James Turquand)

Amélie Alice (Isla Elizabeth)

Amelie Rose 

Aurelia Amo

Aurora Lily

Bethan Grace

Ceilidh Violet (Euan Andrew & Hugh Alistair)

Hallie Rose (Blake Harley)

Henrietta Ellen

Isabelle Emma

Lilian Flora Rose (Stanley Arthur Ian & Evelyn Rose May)

Marnie Elizabeth

Matilda Anna Holly (Hebe Isobel Rose)

Megan Elizabeth

Rosie Peggy Jane

Venetia Araminta (Hugo Robert & Theodore Xavier)

 

 

Name of the Week: Austin

 


 

Origin:

Austin is the medieval vernacular form of Augustine, which itself was the English form of the Roman name Augustinus meaning "belonging to Augustus." Augustus was a Latin word meaning "venerable, revered, majestic, magnificent, noble." It was a religious term originally, though either to derive from augur -- a religious official in ancient Rome who foretold events by interpreting omens -- or the Old Latin *augos "increase" i.e the 'augmentation of that which is religious'. Augustus first became a name when it was bestowed upon Caius Octavius as an honorary cognomen (an epithet or nickname) by the Roman Senate on January 16, 27 BC after his victory at the battle of Actium. He therefore became Imperator Caesar Divi Filius Augustus [Imperator = Commander; Caesar Divi Filius = Divine Son of Caesar; Augustus = The Venerable] and by 12 BC the sixth month of the Roman calendar (Sextilis) was renamed Augustus (August) in his honor.

Usage:

Augustine was early on used in Antiquity thanks to Saint Augustine of Hippo (354–430), a Doctor of the Church, was a theologian and philosopher whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity. His fame and veneration helped spread the usage of the name across Europe. In Britain, Augustine was furthered by the popular veneration of Saint Augustine of Canterbury (d. 604), the first Archbishop of Canterbury who is regarded as "Apostle to the English" and Austin was the common form of the name.  An Austinus de Bernardeston is recorded on the Feet of Fines Rolls of Suffolk in 1224, for example, while a Henry Austin is in the County Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. There is some ambiguity as to how common the name Augustine/Austin was in the Middle Ages. In A Dictionary of English Surnames (p19), Reaney and Wilson* say that the "Christian name is very common, usually in the Latin form". E.G. Withycome describes it as "very common in England in the Middle Ages"* and K.M. Sheard also describes the name as a "very popular name in medieval Britain."* In contrast, the Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources only lists a handful of examples of Augustine/Austin in use before the 16th century. George Redmonds also doubts the names popularity, especially as evidence is scant from his study poll tax returns of ten English counties in 1377-81. In Christian Names in Local and Family History (p92) he says:  "Augustine, or Austin, is likely to have been inspired originally by the first Archbishop of Canterbury or by St Augustine of Hippo, whose cult was widespread in the Middle Ages, but again there is no evidence that the name was common in England in 1377-81. How popular it was before that is difficult to gauge, but it occurred frequently enough to give rise to the surnames Austin and Austen [...] Because the surname became common in Kent it is tempting to link it directly to St Augustine of Canterbury but there is no evidence for that either, since the surviving poll tax returns for Kent include just one family named Austin and no examples of Augustine. There are scattered references elsewhere in the country, with one significant small cluster in Norfolk. [...] In the former West Riding, for example, Augustine was recorded only twice in 1379, in a total of almost 21,000 male names, after which no example has been noted for well over a century. Nevertheless it occurred sporadically in several parishes from the early sixteenth century and was subsequently adopted by the Metcalfes in Abbotside. It flourished there in a network of family and friends right through the seventeenth century." Perhaps by virtue of the saint, or to the use of the surname, Austin became more regularly recorded from the 16th century, and while not popular, was in regular use by the 19th century and consistently in the top 150.  A famous bearer from this period is Sir Austen Henry Layard (1817–1894), traveller, archaeologist, cuneiformist, art historian and diplomat who excavated several ancient Mesopotamian sites which became the jewel in the crown of the British Museum. Henry James also used the name for the character Austin Sloper in his 1880 novel Washington Square. Birth rankings in England and Wales: 1850: #143 1860: #148 1870: #128 1880: #139 1890: #147 1900: #145 Leslie Dunkling's sample for boys named Austin in every 10,000 births in England and Wales shows that the name declined in use by the 1950s but then picked up moderate use by the second half of the 20th century.  1900 1925 1935 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990   7   2   2    -    -    2    4   -   2    2   4   2 In America, Austin was always below the top 150 from 1880 to the 1980s. From that point on however, the name rapidly inclined in popularity, going from #90 in 1986 to #9 in 1996. It is now on its decline. From 1997 to 2006, Austin ranked steadily between #245 and #290.  The name began to rise from 2006, but it was in 2009 that it saw a marked jump from #160 in 2008 to #100. The most likely reason for this added boost to the name was that Autumn 2008 saw the name Austin feature on the two biggest Saturday night television shows of the season: The X Factor (with finalist Austin Drage) and Strictly Come Dancing (with rugby union player Austin Healey as a constentant).  It slipped slightly in the following three years, but then rose to #94 in 2013 and has been slowly rising ever since.  In 2016, Austin ranked #85 with 812 births.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Sir Austen Henry Layard (1817–1894), British traveller, archaeologist, cuneiformist, art historian and diplomat. * Austin Osman Spare (1886–1956), British artist and magician. * Austin Clarke (1896–1974), Irish poet. * Austin Brucklacher (1898-1941), American football player. * Austin Farrer (1904–1968), British theologian and philosopher. Contemporary: * Austin Healey (born 1973), British rugby union player. * Austin Nichols (born 1980), American actor. * Austin Butler (born 1991), American actor. Literature and Other Media: * Austin Sloper, character in Henry James' novel Washington Square (1880). * Austin Powers, comedy film series and the name of the protagonist.

Variants:

Austen, Austyn; Awstin (Welsh)

Pronunciation:

OS-tən [key]

Possible diminutives:

Ozzie

Sibling Names:

Willow     Harper     Darcie     Mila     Lexi     Robyn  Mason     Carter     Dexter     Ellis     Finn     Jesse

Name Lists:

Lively Lads

 

If you like Austin you may also like:   Jackson, Roman, Harley, Jensen, Archer, Aiden, Lennon, Lincoln, Flynn, Tristan

Thanks to Marie for requesting this name.  

 

Name Help: A Sibling for Frederick and Rose

 

 

Nicki is expecting her third child -- a surprise! -- to join Frederick Benjamin and Rose Kate.

Nicki writes: "We like Victorian-era classic English names. Our son is known as Freddie and our daughter as Rosie, so we are a fan of nicknames of their official names, but its not essential.

Girls: 

The only certainty is that if it is a girl, then her middle name is going to be Marie. 

Alice - we both love this as we think it goes really nicely with Rosie in particular. However its been taken by a close friend. 

Penelope (Nell for short) 

Iris 

Isobel - a lot of our friends have Isabella's, so a bit worried it would get confusing 

Kitty - I love this as a nickname, but not a fan of any longer name. Also worry its not very long term. 

Mabel - I love this but I don't think it goes with Marie. 

 

Boys:

Kit - but not so keen on Christopher. My husband is less keen on this name, but I love it! 

Charlie - I like this but again my husband is less keen. Neither of us are a fan of Charles. 

Albert - I love Bertie but worried it would be shortened to Bert, which I hate."

Monty - keep changing my mind on this one 

Names eliminated/already taken:

Violet, Jemima, Beatrice, Evie/Evelyn, Ada, Edith 

Nathan, Nate, Felix, Frank, Stanley, Oliver, James, Leo, Oscar, George, Percy, Edward, Theo, Ralph, Rupert

 

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Girls:

Florence – A gorgeous Victorian darling which brings to mind Florence Nightingale. An equally lovely alternative is vintage Flora. 

Harriet – A British staple through the 18th and 19th century which brings to mind Jane Austen's sweet character and the first female sociologist Harriet Martineau. Hattie, Hettie, Harrie and Etta all work as nicknames. 

Annabel/le – If Isobel is too close to Isabella, how about dulcet Annabel? The bonus part is that not only are Anna, Annie or Bella easy nickname choices, but you could also use Nell. 

Imogen – A pretty Shakespearean name which the Victorians were also fond of. Immy and Ginny make for cute nicknames.

Christabel – If you love Kitty as a nickname, have you considered using Christabel as a longer form? It is sweetly Victorian (ala Christabel Pankhurst) and melodic. 

Olive – If Alice floats your boat, perhaps Olive will appeal? It has a similar svelte and erudite style and vintage charm with the options of Liv and Livvy as nicknames. 

Josephine – A genteel and elegant name with a feisty streak. Nicknames include Posy, Josie, Effie, and Jo. 

Clara – Ladylike with a hint of sass, Clara is a literary lovely which the Victorians adored. 

Eloise – Soundwise between Penelope and Alice sits historic and elegant Eloise. 

Margot – Margot, Margo or Margaux. However you spell it, Margot is a refined French classic which became a hit with British Edwardians. 

Tabitha – A sweet Victorian gem which is both delicate and cheery. 

Ophelia – Grand, elegant and chic, Ophelia is a romantic Shakespearean gem which lends itself to the nicknames Poppy, Effie and Fee. 

 

 

Boys:

Jasper – A dapper gentlemanly name with heaps of style. Jep would make a solid yet quirky nickname. 

Arthur – Distinguished and kingly yet also friendly and affable. Arthur is a classic name which is now as stylish as can be. 

Maxwell – A charming Scottish surname with plenty of style. It feel distinguished and down-to-earth all in one. 

Magnus – From the Latin for "great," Magnus has a long history as a kingly name in Scandinavia where it was imported to Scotland and took root in Britain. Mac or Gus make for great nicknames. 

Rex – Kingly yet quirky, Rex is a dapper and stylish choice which feel effortlessly cool but also friendly. 

Rafe – In a similar vein is sleek and stylish Rafe -- a vernacular form of the Southern English pronunciation of Ralph. 

Tobias  – A debonair Biblical choice which has an adorable Victorian-vibe and sweet nickname Toby. 

Fergus – A sturdy-yet-delightfully playful name (especially with the nickname Gus) which has plenty of Gaelic charm.  

Miles / Myles – Down-to-earth, affable and charming. Not at all flashy but completely enthralling and interesting. 

Barnaby – Playful Barnaby has old-style homeliness combined with dignified polish. 

Laurence – A stately Roman name which now feels solid and homely -- particularly with the potential nicknames Lance or Laurie. 

 

 

I hope this has been of use. Good luck with the name choosing!